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By Brad Gray

Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for Randwick.

The rail is in the True and the form has been done for a good track.

There is A LOT of speed engaged here. That’ll give the stalkers every chance. 12. Tickler looks exceptionally well placed in Highway company on the strength of the form through his first racing campaign. The four-year-old beat Stormy Rock at Warwick Farm on debut before holding his own in two deep BM70s. The first of those was won by Tailleur with the likes of Best Stone and Hulk finishing behind him before three weeks later he was beaten 3L by Dancing Gidget with Frosty Rocks running fourth. Kicks off this campaign in a Class 3 over 1000m with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle. Hasn’t trialled publicly this time back so we get no guide there but willing to takea punt given what he did mid-year.

Dangers: 7. Danebrook is another runner that’ll be suited by a hectic tempo up front. The Sue Grills-trained gelding resumed at Moree six weeks ago with an arrogant win, despite sitting four and five deep throughout. Has always shown plenty of ability and his best is still ahead of him. 2. Steps On Fire is absolutely flying for Cam Crockett. A winner of his past two, he sat deep throughout in the latest of those at Scone but still belted his seven rivals. Could face a similar map here from an awkward draw, which is the knock. There’s also strong cases to be made for fellow speedsters 6. Remlap’s Gem, 9. Tejori and 10. Affinity Beyond but they could all bring each other undone.

How to play it: Tickler WIN ($6 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Tickler winning on debut at Warwick Farm back in June

4. Crackneck has placed in his last three runs, all in Highway Handicaps. The six-year-old is now a fully mature sprinter and has ironed out the bad manners that held him back early days. Stretched his brilliance to 1200m too, so he’s clearly going as well as ever. That was when second to Art Cadeau back in late October. Has performed well when presented fresh in the past so the six weeks between runs holds no fear and the last time he tackled the Randwick 1000m he ran second to It's Me, albeit beaten three lengths. In third there was Toto. With Pinnacle Prince scratched, the son of Ad Valorem looks the horse to beat.

Dangers: 7. Bad Boy For Love is no stranger to Highways with his last five runs all in this company. He was blocked in the straight, copped wide draws, raced wide without cover – you name it, Bad Boy For Love had it as an excuse last preparation. The 1000m looks short of 1. Toro Toro’s best as he likes to control races from the front and can hit a flat spot, but he’s found the right race to run well in here. Prefer to back him next time though. 3. Siege Warfare returned a winner and shapes as a knockout hope.

How to play it: Crackneck WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

13. The Face is one of the more interesting runners across the Randwick meeting given how lightly-raced this baldy-faced three-year-old is. He made a big impression on debut, towelling his rivals up at Gosford despite having a gawk at the big screen late which saw him veer out. He was then deep ended at start number two with Gerald Ryan starting him in the Listed Rosebud. He started a heavily backed second favourite but was no match for Anders. There is no shame in that though as very few sprinters in the country would have beaten Anders that day, over 1100m on a wet track. The Face ran third with subsequent dual Group One winner Ole Kirk running second. Being a 64 rater he is still eligible for easier but all indications are that he’ll roll through the grades.

Dangers: This is a deep race so one or two horses are going to be missed by the market and 9. Redoute’s Image fits that bill here. She mixed it with the top tier fillies over the spring with wide draws costing her finishing even closer to Dame Giselle on two occasions. Maps to box seat. 8. Ballistic Lover is hard fit and racing so consistently. It’s also hard to knock the winning form of 12. Selburose despite both wins coming at Canterbury and over a touch further. Did run Ellsberg to less than a length first up this time back.

How to play it: The Face WIN ($4 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

The Face running third in the Listed Rosebud

6. Stockman got the blinkers on for the first time last start and although it seemed to make no difference to his how one-paced he becomes over the staying journeys, Kerrin McEvoy will benefit greatly from his first ride on the four-year-old. Stockman can be left flatfooted when the sprint goes on so McEvoy will be aware now that he has to stoke him up that touch earlier to tack onto the pack. The other big factor in Stockman's favour is that this is the race Joe Pride has targeted all preparation. He is becoming costly to punters but won't get a better chance than this to add win number five to his CV, and a Listed one at that.

Dangers: 3. He Runs Away has now won four of his past five, in the latest of those holding off a very brave 10. Windermere. Tipping Rachel King took a lot away from her first ride on Windermere though. Wouldn’t be surprised to see her turn the tables. Queenslander 9. Purrfect Deal has been belting up inferior opposition as she works her way through the grades but she’s being doing it in style. Beat Torrens last start at Doomben, a horse that was beaten 6.3L and 4.5L by He Runs Away in his two runs prior. 2. Morton’s Fork is over the odds, if you’re game enough.

How to play it: Stockman WIN ($3 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

Stockman last Saturday at Rosehill

11. Ashema’s trial heat was the fastest of the morning at Rosehill, and that included the older horses. Fake Love looked exceptional in winning it but take nothing away from this filly’s effort to run second. She did it easily with Rachel King in the saddle, with King staying with her for her debut. Glancing at Ashema’s breeding, she has a very fast pedigree being by I Am Invincible out of former Darley-trained mare Omniscient, a daughter of Exceed And Excel. In her trial she bounced in front before being restrained to take a trail. The low draw gives King the same options in the Inglis Nursery. Trainer Annabel Neasham has wasted no time in making an immediate impact since going solo.

Dangers: 6. Mission Value has had two trials, the first of those just for a look around before in his second hitout he was asked to quicken late. Like the way this Capitalist colt went through the line. Another two-year-old drawn low, don’t expect Josh Parr to waste the gate. Looking at his page, he is a half brother to Unite And Conquer, winner of the Maribyrnong Plate and Wyong Magic Millions 2YO feature, where he beat Exhilarates. Blinkers go on. 3. Overmann stylishly won his only trial hitout, going to the line with 4. Acrobat. It was a typical trial from a Team Hawkes-trained youngster, with the son of Hinchinbrook throttled down through the line. Has to overcome a tricky draw.

How to play it: Ashema WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Ashema’s Rosehill trial behind Fake Love

Don’t expect we’ll get too many more chances to back 1. Tailleur in benchmark races. The four-year-old mare has won four from five and the defeat can be put solely down the bias Kensington surface back in July. All four runs last campaign were on heavy tracks but she did win on debut at Gosford on a firm deck and ran she smashed the clock. The last two times we saw her at the races she won in the manner of a horse destined for black type success. James Cummings sent her around at the trials recently but she wasn’t asked to do much, running fifth under a hold. There is speed drawn underneath her so Kerrin McEvoy has a task in finding cover but with any luck, she looks too classy.

Dangers: 3. Maddi Rocks is always dangerous when presented fresh. She is 4:1-2-0 first up but even that record doesn’t do her justice. Maps to suck up behind the speed getting the last shot. That’s a perfect scenario for her and she tackles her pet trip. 5. Snapdancer and 2. Threeood fall into a similar bucket in that their first up wins were career best efforts. Snapdancer won at Ballarat over 1200m despite getting out to 2000m as a three-year-old. Will settle handy. Threeood was the only horse that won from further back than third at Rosehill two weeks ago and did it after covering ground. Looks even better suited over 1200m now second up. Would have to improve again to beat Tailleur, however, assuming Tailleur brings her best.

How to play it: Tailleur WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Tailleur’s Gosford trial – November 25

Let fast horses be fast. It’s easy to say with the benefit of hindsight but the tactics were wrong with 3. Snitz in the Starlight Stakes over 1100m a fortnight ago. The six-year-old’s sustained speed is his asset. It’s what saw him progress from benchmark horses to a black type sprinter. The son of Snitzel didn’t look comfortable in behind horses before being jammed up when looking for a run. He finished second last but wasn’t knocked about late and gets a much better set up second up out to 1200m. Tim Clark, who ride Snitz when he won the Takeover Target before guiding him into third to Classique Legend in the June Stakes, holds the aces as far as where he want to be in the run having drawn barrier 3, inside of 10. Spaceboy. If Snitz doesn’t lead, he’ll sit outside. Either way, he’ll get his chance to bounce back to his best.

Dangers: The big query for most punters around Spaceboy will be whether he gets 1200m at this level. The speedster was brave when second in the Starlight and if Kathy O’Hara can pinch a couple of cheap splits in the middle stages, which is more inclined to occur over 1200m as opposed to 1100m, he’ll be in the finish again. 6. Southern Lad holds a 2-0 head to head over Snitz and meets him better at the weights from their two previous clashes. Like the way 4. Passage Of Time hit the line in the Starlight despite being held up for much of the straight. Strips fitter and out to 1200m suits (13:5-2-1). Do think he is at his best when he can dictate though, which he’s no chance of doing here. 7. Athiri next best but is well found.

How to play it: Snitz WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

How forgiving of Snitz can we be in the Starlight?

Have been desperate to see 15. Criaderas over a mile. The talented four-year-old also gets blinkers for the first time and will appreciate getting back on top of the ground, having run eighth in the Golden Eagle the last time we saw him. That was six weeks ago on a heavy track where a slow getaway proved costly. The Lonhro gelding is still far from the finished product and you can take it to the bank that he’ll settle last but he still has so much upside compared to his rivals. Yes, this is a Group Two by name but off ratings it’s more like a Listed race so it’s not a giant leap for him. The speed looks genuine enough up top, with 1. Fun Fact and 4. Greysful Glamour rolling along, for him to rattle off one of his customary monster finishes.

Dangers: 12. Through The Cracks may be able to position a tad closer in the run than Criaderas having drawn middle but he’ll still be in the second half. He is another galloper here with a big finish, also having his first crack at the mile. Made late ground in an on speed dominated Festival Stakes. Greysful Glamour drops back from 2000m but given her racing style, that shouldn’t prove too disadvantageous. Her form in Sydney this time back is excellent and she went down by a nostril in the G3 Angst this track and trip back in October. There is a query over 3. Outrageous getting a strong mile but he has never raced better so we’ll find out once and for all on Saturday.

How to play it: Criaderas WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Criaderas in the Golden Eagle

12. Spirit Ridge can only improve off what he did first up at Newcastle when second to Super and that puts him in the finish again. The race turned into a sprint home with the winner accelerating quickly which played against Spirit Ridge. He looks much better suited in this, which shapes to be genuinely run. The import gets the blinkers on for the first time here too. The form out of that Newcastle race has been awful since but willing to overlook that given there isn’t a lot of depth to this BM88. We know the level of the top half of this field, there’s very little upside, and most find themselves out of form. The same can’t be said for Spirit Ridge with only 10 starts to his name, despite being six, with just two of them in Australia. He has found the perfect race.

Dangers: 16. New Arrangement is a perennial tease and has been knocking on the door for some time now. In his past eight runs he hasn’t finished further away than fourth, but he hasn’t won any of them. Shoots up in grade now third up but plummets down to 53.5kg and with due respect to his rivals here a fourth to Two Big Fari, Great News and Fulmina in BM78 grade reads quite well for this. Last start Mudgee Cup winner 14. Regal Stage is hard fit, flying and will make his own luck. 2. Mr Marathon Man is one paced, and might be looking for 2000m now, but he draws to be in the right spot. Can grind his way into a place on the back of a Group Three fourth last start. 3. Primitivo has improved sharply second up in the past.

How to play it: Spirit Ridge WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

Criaderas in the Golden Eagle

Happy to side with last start winner 3. Monegal with James McDonald doing the steering. This Theresa Bateup-trained mare won well first up at Kembla Grange, carrying on her career best form from last campaign which also saw her win first up before running Orcein to half a length second up having come from last. The five-year-old is creeping up in the weights, carrying 59kg here, but she does stay in BM78 company. She is largely thought of a backmarker but drawn the inside, don't expect McDonald to waste the gate. She can settle much closer.

Dangers: 6. Snowfire has won his past three on the bounce and gunned down Rammstein first up, a horse that has since franked the form in running second to Surreal Step last Saturday. 2. I Am Vinnie is two from two in Sydney with the latest over those wins over this same track and trip where he gave Laure Me In and Poetic Charmer a touch up. History could repeat again. 11. Promotions faces a very tricky draw but his run of starting prices warrants respect. Missed the kick last start which proved the difference. 4. Juventus and 10. He’s A Hotshot are in the mix too.

How to play it: Monegal EACH WAY ($11 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Monegal winning at Kembla first up

All the fields, form and replays for Randwick on Saturday